Rescue workers pull out a passenger from a bus which collided with a rickshaw and fell into a well, in Nashik, Tuesday.
The death toll in the Maharashtra bus accident has surged to 23 while several others are injured after State Road Transport Corporation bus and autorickshaw collided and fell into a well near Malegaon on Tuesday, officials said. The accident took place on Tuesday evening on the busy Malegaon-Deola Road, an official of Nashik Police Control said.
Rescue operation was launched soon after and 30 bus passengers were saved while at 18 others perished. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to kin of each deceased this evening.
Transport Minister Anil Parab has directed the district authorities to ensure all help to the victims including medical treatment. The police are probing the cause of the accident and ascertaining of there are any more victims.
Later in the evening, police managed to fish out the vehicles, and efforts were onto rescue of any others were on. The bus was carrying around 40 passengers while the autorickshaw had an unknown number of riders.
Work of identifying the victims and autopsy was being carried out.
(With inputs from IANS)
ALSO READ: After IndiGo, Air India bars Kunal Kamra from flying over heckling video
ALSO READ: Shaheen Bagh Protest: Identity of gun-toting man revealed
